The VISES of Garage Journal

[KMScott]

Measurements on Parker 950 / 970 series screw retainers.
across the top / diameter of the slot on which the retainer rests
size of jaws in the circle / #part number
The 3" has no part number and I checked two vises. The #29 (bottom left) was one a 953 and yet has the older small letters on it. The vise has not been abused so I would assume it is the original one. Sorry no 2 1/2" or 8" info, I am still working on those as is everyone else on this forum

Getridaone, Awesome post, thanks at this end. Numbers are a good thing, in fact I would love to make drawings on all of these.

 

[AndrewH]

Well, I figured since I've posted enough pictures of my kitchen counter, I'd post one of the shop. Excuse the mess, I'm currently working on a 5197, 975 and Morgan 150.. oh and a 974 1/2..

 

[FMC1959]

GETRIDAONE, thanks for that, lots of good info which is not easily available.

I just bought one from alinc100's 974 parts for my Parker 105 (4 1/2"). I am curious to see on a 1/2' vise size difference if it will fit and look OK.

Balane, you are a real pro in the way you crank out your restores. You have the distinction of combining the speed of assembly line work but with the quality of a fine watchmaker.

 

[alinc100]

Two more vises followed me home today.
A Reed 204 1/2 and a Columbian 504.
Total cost for both was under $70.00

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Two more vises followed me home today.
A Reed 204 1/2 and a Columbian 504.
Total cost for both was under $70.00

Nice! I've been keeping an eye out for a Reed just to compare it to my other vises since everyone here likes them so much.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

This was from a local auction but I didn't make it out there. Not sure what it went for, but it looks like a bigger one.

 

[alinc100]

Nice! I've been keeping an eye out for a Reed just to compare it to my other vises since everyone here likes them so much.

C'mon over tomorrow (or whenever ) and have a look. Have grandson's 1st Birthday party tomorrow at 3pm, but will be home til 2:30 and back by 6pm.

 

[rmalkow2]

Vise hunters in the Detroit, Ann Arbor area this ad just went up on CL for an old Parker.
http://annarbor.craigslist.org/tls/4543637202.html
Somebody save it!

 

[AndrewH]

Vise hunters in the Detroit, Ann Arbor area this ad just went up on CL for an old Parker.
http://annarbor.craigslist.org/tls/4543637202.html
Somebody save it!

Damn, why did you have to post this! I saw it on CL. Already contacted the guy to pick it up.

Edit: Sorry guys, you'll see it in the morning

 

[AndrewH]

That's the original badge. It was dirty but the coating of crud acted like a protective barrier I guess. A toothbrush and some Simple Green made it look that nice.

Thanks guys. Shame about shipping costs. The unfortunate thing is that it gives West Coast folks a bidding advantage. For instance, shipping to Seattle is $23, L.A. $40, St. Louis $53, Orlando or NYC $63. That's my cost and I'm going to be eating some of the shipping since eBay doesn't have the means to calculate rates on two boxes which this must go because it's over 70 pounds. I'm guessing it's going to cost me about $12 or so, depending on location, over the shipping eBay is showing. Not complaining, that's just how it is.

Hey,

Out of curiosity, would you be able to make a replica decal / sticker of that? That's the one thing mine is missing and I'm not sure where to find another one unfortunately. At a minimum can you take a high resolution shot of it before you ship it out for me?

Thanks!

Edit: Actually, I might have found one on eBay. If you get a chance before I get out work can you measure it for length so I check it against the one that's for sale.

 

[drivesitfar]

Andrew: you can probably find a nice one on a Craftsman planer, tablesaw, drill press or another tool and get the real metal one to put on your vise if you want to wait until you find one. I passed on an old table saw the other day for $20 that had one on it I should have picked up for the parts.

Balane: I should have a file labeled Balane's stump. nice work and glad you picked those colors instead of the off green you were talking about. I saved all of those pictures to my file and hopefully will have some similar to post next month on mine because i'm slow at getting mine restored or even cleaned up. wish you the best and hopefully the new owner won't have any further issues with the vise that you disclosed.

Getridofone: since you like shiny better than most and you are able to make your vise so shiny how about this? see if Jon Jacobs will make all those for you in brass like he made for himself for a fee and then he'll have all the patterns to copy in person. ship them to him or KM if he wants to change metal types and make some.

 

[CTyankee]

Not that I needed another..

Picked this at a garage sale today. Simplex Gray 41 P. Simplex Tool Co. Woon RI. Old timer wanted 25...got it for 20. A quick search turned up a little info and couple of threads here... Not much wear on it, jaws are in excellent shape. I'm thinking 40's.. I don't use/need the other 5 assorted ones I've got already. My excuse for this one a co-worker asked me to look for one he could POSSIBLY buy. It appears to be a fairly stout vice. (around 50 lbs give or take)

View media item 41453
View media item 41452
View media item 41451

 

[RustnGrease]

CT, Great deal on that vise. I only have enough room on my bench for one but the collection is up to 4. For that price, you couldn't think of leaving it there lol.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

GETRIDAONE, thanks for that, lots of good info which is not easily available.

I just bought one from alinc100's 974 parts for my Parker 105 (4 1/2"). I am curious to see on a 1/2' vise size difference if it will fit and look OK.

I bet the collar will fit, I checked an older 4 1/2" and the collar is the same size as a 974. The 100 series seemed to cheat a bit on jaw size as your 105 is only 4 1/2" and that holds true from 4" on up I think.

I did get finished changing out my vise that I actually use from a smaller Wilton to this 205 Reed and put some extra support underneath the corner of the bench. You gotta love an old Reed with big ole balls on the handle.

 

[McBrownie]

GETRIDAONE, thanks for that, lots of good info which is not easily available.

I just bought one from alinc100's 974 parts for my Parker 105 (4 1/2"). I am curious to see on a 1/2' vise size difference if it will fit and look OK.

I bet the collar will fit, I checked an older 4 1/2" and the collar is the same size as a 974. The 100 series seemed to cheat a bit on jaw size as your 105 is only 4 1/2" and that holds true from 4" on up I think.

I did get finished changing out my vise that I actually use from a smaller Wilton to this 205 Reed and put some extra support underneath the corner of the bench. You gotta love an old Reed with big ole balls on the handle.

Nice upgrade! I moved a small Wilton to make room for a bigger Parker. The truth is that I use both. They compliment each other. Tell me more about the pipe. Where did you get it?, etc... I think I might need to make my own stand and I would like to know where to start.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

It is a corner post from a patio tent / sun shade. It is only about 16 ga metal but it was easier to work than a heavier thick wall pipe. I just welded a plate on top and screwed it to bottom of the bench. Concrete screws in the bottom and all done. It looks a bit nicer than a wood 4x4 but after all it is just a work bench that stays trashed most of the time.
Maybe an old basketball goal post would work well.

 

[mtesh73]

restored wilton C0, 40 years old. look a bit better now?

here are some before, during and after pics of the project.

thanks to autopts (nick) for his accumen when it comes to this brand. lots of great information gained.

the original "military" gray was removed using a chemical paint stripper gel. i have used this product in the past with great success. 40 years of paint just bubbled away in 10 minutes, piece of cake. i used rustoleum hammered copper for the finish coats. jaw inserts and pipe inserts where almost new. i buffed the handle and lockdowns with a 3M green pad, they cleaned up nicely. all in all i am exrtemely pleased with the quality and fit and finish of this vise.

 

[mtesh73]

last picture of it finally mounted

dont mind the mess on the bench.

 

[McBrownie]

Re: last picture of it finally mounted

dont mind the mess on the bench.

Mess? Mess?!?! I don't see no stinkin' mess!

Nice Wilton!

 

[Blue Frog]

Picked this up today - just couldn't leave it at the sale for $30.00 - Looks to be an early Yost 104.








It doesn't need anything but cleaning up, possibly painting, then put to use.

 

[jaker10]

Started cleaning up my Monarch and found this. Is it a date??

 

[AndrewH]

Just picked up the Parker 956, seller was a great guy, and this big boy is in excellent condition, probably the best condition vise I've bought so far. Has anyone seen a casted W where the Patent dates would normally be? None of my other Parkers have it.

 

[Schony]

My grandpa gave me this vise a couple months before he passed. He got it from his father, my grate grandpa. It's a 4" Samson made in Racine Wisconsin. They used to make tractors among other things until GM bought the company. It dates back to the teens or 20's. Gave it a face lift and plan on bringing to work and giving it another lifetime of use. Everything came apart with ease, she was never left outside. If anyone has anymore info on this company please let me know.

https://scontent-b-dfw.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t1.0-9/10486656_10152179076012546_3332973730265444646_n.jpg

 

[drivesitfar]

Schony: that's a nice Sampson vise and great story. also nice restoration. i'm not sure of the history to quote like others might be, but i'm pretty sure Rock Island made those for Sampson. there was something to do with Craftsman vises too because Rock Island was making their vises at the time in the 1930's.

also welcome to Garage Journal and we all hope you stick around to learn and teach us what you know. also if you find out more about Sampson vises please post again if others don't give information sooner.

Andrew: you will have to build more benches or at least more shelves for those big guys you keep bringing home. that one looks awesome and glad you got it and for a great price too. what color for that one or are you going for the basic black natural finish on all your Parker vises?

Blue: awesome vise and does anybody else see the Yost looking like an old Reed?? were they somehow connected in years past??

Getridofone: nice modification to your bench to hold your vise out for great access. nice looking vise too.

Mtesh: don't you love those C series Wilton vises?? nice job and good color too.

 

[va.grouseman]

I think that Samson was a second tier Sears brand. Someone correct me if I am wrong. But what was second tier vises 50 to a 100 years ago put most late model vises to shame.

What I want to know Schony is what in the world is the Samson sitting on?

 

[Kayo]

Quote:

"What I want to know Schony is what in the world is the Samson sitting on?"

Me too!

 

[Hako86]

Just a quick question. How much play in an old vise is normal? When my vise (American Scale) isn't fully closed there is some play in the knob at the front of the vise. I can move it up, down, left and right about 3/16 of an inch (I can't move it in or out though). It also has some play in the dynamic jaw/slide. When the vise isn't closed all the way, I can move the dynamic jaw up, left and right about 0.030 inch. Is this normal for a vise this old?

 

[balane]

Every American Scale vise I've ever had my hands on experienced the same looseness exactly as you described. I can only guess they were manufactured with lower tolerances and marketed towards dirty, industrial environments. That's just a guess though. They all worked fine but, as you said, when under no tension there was more play than on other vises. The one in this photo, a 5", was so loose that I had a hard time selling it even though it functioned perfectly as a workhorse vise.

.

 

[AndrewH]

Here's the Parker 956, it really is in awesome condition, I'm lucky to be able to add it to my collection. And I'm really thinking about painting it gloss red with white embossed letters. (yes I know, you did read that right!)

And as a consolation prize, he gave me this little Rock Island that seems to work well, just needs jaw pads..

 

[rmsg0040]

Picked up today

 

[ritzblitz]

Got this Wilton Cadet 5" jaws for $40 today. It is hammered.

Are these rare in this size?

 

[Hako86]

Every American Scale vise I've ever had my hands on experienced the same looseness exactly as you described. I can only guess they were manufactured with lower tolerances and marketed towards dirty, industrial environments. That's just a guess though. They all worked fine but, as you said, when under no tension there was more play than on other vises. The one in this photo, a 5", was so loose that I had a hard time selling it even though it functioned perfectly as a workhorse vise.

.

Ok, thanks ! Yeah it works just fine, but when I first got it I thought the main nut was broken or something. I also found out the lead screw fits really sloppy in the threads of the main nut. I can even move the lead screw up and down a bit while it's fully screwed in in the main nut.

 

[jaker10]

Here is my Monarch 219 before and after. Just a clean up and linseed oil.

 

[Hako86]

Looks really nice ! I really like the non-painted vise restorations

 

[Just_George]

CL find , Wilton 350 - guy was asking $200 for it. I drove about 25 miles to get to him, asked casually if he had any wiggle room on the price. Fully expected to pay $200, or maybe $180 if he was in a good mood...he came back with $130! Good shape - some of the finish is showing its age, but jaws are in very good shape and nobody has beat on it that I can see. Stand was obtained a while back from a friend and had been awaiting a suitable application...

 

[FMC1959]

CL find , Wilton 350... Fully expected to pay $200, or maybe $180 if he was in a good mood...he came back with $130!...had been awaiting a suitable application...

Must of caught right after he got lucky with the wife

 

[wrenchMONKEY_]

Brockhaus Heuer 135
Id love to clean it up and repaint, but I enjoy it in its original condition/paint job.
Maybe I'll disassemble it, hit it with some engine degrease and power wash it then re-grease it and lube it one weekend.

 

[Fretters]

Picked up today

Nice. That's a York, unless I'm mistaken? Is the 100 4" or thereabouts?

 

[mtesh73]

Mtesh: don't you love those C series Wilton vises?? nice job and good color too.

Mess? Mess?!?! I don't see no stinkin' mess!

Nice Wilton!

thanks guys. i do love the combination vises, i feel they are a bit stouter.

 

[8man]

Here is my 1940 Athol via my Granddad, when I picked it up from Dad.



And here it is today after a lot of work and help from folks on this site.